Contextual heart rate monitoring

Abstract

A method and system for contextual heart rate monitoring are disclosed. In a first aspect, the method comprises calculating a heart rate using a detected ECG signal and detecting an activity level. In a second aspect, the system comprises a wireless sensor device coupled to a user via at least one electrode, wherein the wireless sensor device includes a processor and a memory device coupled to the processor, wherein the memory device stores an application which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to calculate a heart rate using a detected ECG signal and to detect an activity level.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for contextual heart rate monitoring, the method comprising:
 detecting an ECG signal using a wireless sensor device in a patch form factor comprising at least one electrode, wherein the wireless sensor device is coupled externally to a user; 
 determining a heart rate using the ECG signal; 
 detecting an activity level; and 
 generating one or more warnings based upon the heart rate and the activity level, 
 wherein the one or more warnings include 
 a first warning when the heart rate is above a first threshold and the activity level is below a third threshold, and 
 a second warning when the heart rate is below a second threshold and the activity level is above a fourth threshold, 
 wherein the first threshold, second threshold, third threshold and fourth threshold are defined by activity measured against heart rate reserve, wherein the heart rate reserve is defined as (Heart Rate (HR)−Resting Heart Rate)/(Maximum Heart Rate−Resting Heart Rate). 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heart rate is calculated over a predetermined time period and the activity level is detected over the predetermined time period. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first threshold is a high heart rate threshold, the second threshold is a low heart rate threshold, the third threshold is a high activity level threshold, and the fourth threshold is a low activity level threshold. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein exercise is detected when the activity level is above the fourth threshold. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 calculating a recovery heart rate when the exercise ceases. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the calculating of the recovery heart rate further comprises:
 calculating another heart rate a predetermined time period after the exercise ceases, 
 wherein the recovery heart rate is a difference between the heart rate when the exercise ceases and the another heart rate at a predetermined time period after the exercise ceases. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 tracking the recovery heart rate over another predetermined time period to determine cardiovascular disease. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining both the low heart rate threshold and the high heart rate threshold using age information and preset values. 
 
     
     
       9. A system for contextual heart rate monitoring, the system comprising:
 a wireless sensor device in a patch form factor coupled externally to a user, wherein the wireless sensor device comprising at least one electrode, a sensor to detect an ECG signal of the user, a processor coupled to the sensor, and a memory device coupled to the processor, wherein the memory device stores an application which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to: 
 determine a heart rate using the ECG signal; 
 detect an activity level; and 
 generate one or more warnings based upon the heart rate and the activity level, 
 wherein the one or more warnings include 
 a first warning when the heart rate is above a first threshold and the activity level is below a third threshold, and 
 a second warning when the heart rate is below a second threshold and the activity level is above a fourth threshold, 
 wherein the first threshold, second threshold, third threshold and fourth threshold are defined by activity measured against heart rate reserve, wherein the heart rate reserve is defined as (Heart Rate (HR)−Resting Heart Rate)/(Maximum Heart Rate−Resting Heart Rate). 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the heart rate is calculated over a predetermined time period and the activity level is detected over the predetermined time period. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first threshold is a high heart rate threshold, the second threshold is a low heart rate threshold, the third threshold is a high activity level threshold, and the fourth threshold is a low activity level threshold. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 9 , wherein exercise is detected when the activity level is above the fourth threshold. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the application further causes the processor to:
 calculate a recovery heart rate when the exercise ceases. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein to calculate the recovery heart rate further comprises to:
 calculate another heart rate a predetermined time period after the exercise ceases, 
 wherein the recovery heart rate is a difference between the heart rate when the exercise ceases and the another heart rate at a predetermined time period after the exercise ceases. 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the application further causes the processor to:
 track the recovery heart rate over another predetermined time period to determine cardiovascular disease. 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the application further causes the processor to:
 determine both the low heart rate threshold and the high heart rate threshold using age information and preset values.